This is an EMERGENCY — go to the nearest 24-hour vet hospital RIGHT NOW.
RexVet does NOT handle emergencies. We can help with follow-up AFTER your pet is stabilized.
Breathing Distress — Richmond, VA
Respiratory emergency — your pet is struggling to breathe, breathing through an open mouth (especially cats — almost always an emergency), has blue or grey gums, or is in respiratory failure. Causes range from heart failure to airway obstruction to severe asthma to toxic exposure. This is always an ER situation.
Do this RIGHT NOW
- Get to an emergency vet IMMEDIATELY
- Keep your pet calm and cool during transport
- Do NOT force them to lie flat — let them position themselves for best breathing
- Note timeline (when started, any triggers, color of gums)
- If you have a phone, take a 10-second video of the breathing to show the ER
Phone numbers — call from the car
- Call ahead: Tell the ER 'breathing emergency' — they will prep oxygen
Do NOT do this
- × Do NOT muzzle a pet in respiratory distress
- × Do NOT give human asthma medications without veterinary guidance
- × Do NOT delay — respiratory emergencies decompensate fast
- × Do NOT try to give water or food — aspiration risk
Most common causes
- Heart failure (especially older small dogs)
- Feline asthma flare
- Foreign body in airway (chicken bones, toys)
- Allergic reaction (snake bite, bee sting, vaccine reaction)
- Pneumonia
- Smoke inhalation
- Heatstroke
- Pulmonary edema
- Pleural effusion (fluid around lungs)
After your Richmond pet is stable, RexVet can help
After ER stabilization, RexVet can help with cardiac medication refills (furosemide, pimobendan, ACE inhibitors), feline asthma inhaler coaching (flovent + albuterol via spacer), ongoing monitoring plans, and decisions about cardiology referral. Acute respiratory distress is always an ER emergency.
Book a $64.99 follow-up visit →Breathing Distress in Richmond
Frequently asked questions
Is this an emergency I should go to the ER for?
YES — breathing distress is a true veterinary emergency that needs in-person ER care immediately. RexVet does NOT handle emergencies. Get to the nearest 24-hour animal hospital in Richmond right now. Call ahead if possible.
Where do I find a 24-hour emergency vet in Richmond?
Search "emergency animal hospital Richmond" or "24 hour vet Richmond" on Google Maps right now. Most metro areas have 2-4 24/7 ER hospitals. If you have a regular vet, call their after-hours line — many practices route to a partner ER. Do NOT delay to research the "best" ER — the nearest 24-hour facility is what matters in the first 30 minutes.
Can RexVet help with breathing distress by video?
No — not during the active emergency. RexVet does not provide emergency care. After your pet is stabilized at the ER and discharged, RexVet can help with: After ER stabilization, RexVet can help with cardiac medication refills (furosemide, pimobendan, ACE inhibitors), feline asthma inhaler coaching (flovent + albuterol via spacer), ongoing monitoring plans, and decisions about cardiology referral. Acute respiratory distress is always an ER emergency.
What are the most common causes of breathing distress in pets?
Heart failure (especially older small dogs); Feline asthma flare; Foreign body in airway (chicken bones, toys); Allergic reaction (snake bite, bee sting, vaccine reaction); Pneumonia.
What should I NOT do for breathing distress?
Do NOT muzzle a pet in respiratory distress; Do NOT give human asthma medications without veterinary guidance; Do NOT delay — respiratory emergencies decompensate fast; Do NOT try to give water or food — aspiration risk.
Breathing Distress response in other FL/NY/VA cities
This page is an emergency reference. RexVet does NOT provide emergency veterinary services. Always call a 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital for life-threatening situations. Medical review by Dr. Tiffany Delacruz, DVM.